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11/06/2006


Republicans Using Deceptive Telemarketing Phone-Bots

Republicans have reached hundreds of thousands of homes in six states using telemarketing 'robo-calls' that reportedly deceive the listener into thinking they're being bothered at home by a Democrat, but then turn out to be a negative campaign push from the Republican candidate. If the listener hangs up, they are repeatedly called back by the phone-bot until they've listened to the entire message.

ElephantVia AmericaBlog: "The messages start like they are going are from the Democratic candidate 'I have a message from....' but then turn in to a negative call. However, [listeners] are only hearing the first part of the message, thinking that it is the Democrat. If [listeners] hang up, they're called back again, and again, and again. End result? The Democratic [listeners] are so ticked off at the Democrat harassing them that they don't vote, or vote for the Republican - without realizing they've just been tricked."

Since they appear to be losing on the issues, I guess phone fraud is the last resort. New Hampshire has already made the GOP stop making some of the calls.

There is something you can do if you receive one of these calls, according to Josh Marshall at TPM: "If you've gotten one of these calls, write down as much information about it as you can (time, phone number, etc.) and call the 'metro desk' of your local paper."

The areas reporting these tactics now include Philadelphia, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Kansas.

Posted 2:17 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elections, News, Republican Party | Permalink

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  1. WHY am i not surprised?

    Posted by: WTF | Nov 6, 2006 2:52:09 PM


  2. It's important to remember that the Republican Party is largely controlled by Extreme-Right-Christians; They will resort to anything, even deception, to further their agenda: making into law their Fundamentalist beliefs.

    No doubt:
    We have a christian-fascist problem here in America. Fear and fight this social-problem.

    rob@egoz.org

    Posted by: rob adams | Nov 6, 2006 2:53:18 PM


  3. I'm getting more real phone calls from Democrats in Philadelphia that are just as annoying. Like a phone call is going to sway anyone.

    Posted by: jeff | Nov 6, 2006 2:54:02 PM


  4. My home is getting phone calls from famous Italian Americans (and they tell you they are "proud Italian Americans") to not vote for Menendez but for Kean, Jr. for Senate. I've gotten two calls like that on Saturday. I wonder if it's because my partner's last name is on the phone bill and it's italian, that we get these calls. My parents the next town over with a hispanic "sounding" last name don't get these.

    But i haven't gotten the repeat calls things happening, cause they leave the whole message on voicemail, so guess it doesn't get counted as a hangup.

    Posted by: Scott | Nov 6, 2006 3:12:48 PM


  5. And the robots - they leave messages. I had to turn off my answering machine because of all the calls. Why aren't these calls protected under the "Do Not Call" registry?

    There oughtta be a law!

    Posted by: David | Nov 6, 2006 3:15:03 PM


  6. I've received a couple of the hypothetical question phone calls from Republican groups, of the "Who are you voting for? Would you still vote for such and such democratic candidate if you knew he raped a bus full of nuns?" variety. Wasn't that a Bush strategy used against McCain in '00 during the primaries? "If you knew John McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child..." etc?

    Posted by: burnssuit | Nov 6, 2006 3:27:44 PM


  7. Sadly, Democrats did exactly the same thing to each other during the Presidential Primary before the 2004 election.

    Posted by: Patrick | Nov 6, 2006 3:45:21 PM


  8. And people wonder why I don't have a land line.

    Posted by: Marco | Nov 6, 2006 4:08:40 PM


  9. This was huge news here in NH over the weekend. One newscast mentioned fines well into the millions. I'm anxious to see if the people of this nation are really ready for change, or remain cowards satisfied with the status quo.

    Posted by: Steve | Nov 6, 2006 4:15:46 PM


  10. Just when I think they can't go any lower, they break through the sub-basement.

    Posted by: Ridwah | Nov 6, 2006 4:24:24 PM


  11. Do you really think ANY politician would put include political telemarketing in the Do Not Call statute? Better chance that Congress would pass a pay-cut...

    Posted by: Lano | Nov 6, 2006 4:34:51 PM


  12. I know it's an appropriate picture to go with the theme of the article, but given the way things are going in the GOP, shouldn't that be an elephant trying to fit into a closet?

    Posted by: mark m | Nov 6, 2006 5:36:45 PM


  13. Just listen to this:

    http://www.webbforsenate.com/media/phone_message.wav

    Posted by: Alex | Nov 6, 2006 6:09:09 PM


  14. You can add Washington State to the list. This has been going on here since late October. The Democratic candidate, Peter Goldmark, is being targeted by his opponent Cathy McMorris. The MSM in Eastern Washington State (red) hasn't reported much.

    Posted by: Kevin | Nov 6, 2006 7:17:32 PM


  15. Sadly, I don't have a land line. Those bastards got my cell number.

    Posted by: burnssuit | Nov 6, 2006 7:24:33 PM


  16. Ya know, I used to be a Republican, but ever since 2000 I have become increasingly embarrassed by that fact. The Republican party I joined in 1968, with all its flaws in no way resembles what passes for Republican today. Sure, all parties engage in some tricks, especially during elections. Negative campaigning is not an invention of the past 7 years, but the level to which the filth and deception has fallen is nothing short of nauseating.

    I was thinking that voters should no better than to fall for this crap, but then I realized that most voters minds are nowhere near as deveous as the minds of these Republican operatives and for that I guess we should be grateful.

    Posted by: Michael D. Fein | Nov 6, 2006 7:59:50 PM


  17. >> Just when I think they can't go any lower, they break through the sub-basement.

    They're tunnelling to China so they can steal back some of the national debt.

    Posted by: John C | Nov 6, 2006 8:08:03 PM


  18. I just got a robocall from the Dems this evening. And I listened to the entire call just to make sure it was not a Republican call in disguise since I saw this 'story'. Plus I'm on the Do Not Call list, and have been forever. This stuff happens all over - and I don't know of anyone who would change their vote due to crap like that anyway, unless they were too stupid to know better anyways...in which case we're all doomed already. And stupid crosses party lines, let me tell you.

    Posted by: Ken H | Nov 6, 2006 10:08:25 PM


  19. Michael,
    My family is largely Repub, but they have been saying the exact same thing since 2000. That it's not "the same party" as when they initially registered.

    I think it's important to remember that both parties are capable of inconsiderate, devious behaviour and in the case of bot-calling, it would seem both parties are guilty.

    Posted by: Derrick | Nov 7, 2006 11:21:50 AM


  20. FYI, the companies name that is making these calls is called E Communications advantage, based out of Austin Tx. Late last week I found out about their tactics and refused to send them any more staff. Wish I had known sooner.

    Posted by: MysteryMan | Nov 7, 2006 1:13:56 PM


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